JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 22, 2003) - East Tennessee State University's women's tennis team defeated Western Carolina, 6-1, Sunday at the ETSU outdoor tennis complex. The victory put ETSU back on the winning track and gave head coach Steve Brooks his first conference victory at the helm of the Buccaneer program.
"This was a good win for us," Brooks said. " Western Carolina is a tough team that has really improved."
ETSU won the doubles point winning their first two matches. Jessica Irey (Clewiston, Fla.) and Gemma Halim (Jakarta, Indonesia) defeated Western Carolina's Shannon Zalinski and Megan Bechtold, 8-2, at number one doubles. At the number two doubles position, the tandem of Sylwia Ziolkowska (Warsaw, Poland) and Aimee Villavicencio (Lexington, Ky.) defeated Western's Rocio Perez and Erin Johnson, 8-6, to win the point.
In singles play, Ziolkowska dropped Perez in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, at the number one spot, while Halim defeated Bechtold, 6-4, 6-2, at number two singles. Irey defeated Kristin Munn, 7-5, 7-6 (4), at number three singles to ensure the Buccaneer victory. At the number four spot Jewel Aldea (Charleston, S.C.) cruised to victory, defeating Johnson, 6-2, 6-1. McInnis defeated Western's Kristin Cotton, 7-5, 7-6 (2) at number five singles. Western's lone victory of the day came at number six singles, as Shannon Zalinski defeated Buccaneer junior, Tatiana Arriaran (Cochabamba, Bolivia) in a battle, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.
Today's match proved to be an inspiring one for the Buccaneer's, as assistant coach Tony Katras returned from his service in Kuwait City. Katras, a major in the United States National Guard, had been stationed at a Kuwait City hospital since November.
With the victory, the Buccaneers move to 9-11, 1-3 in the SoCon, Western Carolina fell to 5-6, 0-2. The Buccaneers will return to action March 25 as they travel to take on SoCon foe, Davidson, with the match set to begin at 2 p.m.
EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY 6, WESTERN CAROLINA 1
Singles Play
1. Sylwia Ziokowska (ETSU) def. Rocio Perez (WCU), 6-2, 6-2
2..Gemma Halim (ETSU) def. Megan Bechtold (WCU),6-4, 6-2
3. Jessica Irey (ETSU) def. Kristin Munn (WCU), 7-5, 7-6 (4)
4..Jewel Aldea (ETSU) def. Erin Johnson (WCU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Courtney McInnis (ETSU) def. Kristin Cotton (WCU), 7-5, 7-6 (2)
6. Shannon Zalinski (WCU) def. Tatiana Arriaran (ETSU), 4-6, 6-4, 10-8
Doubles Play
1. Halim/Irey (ETSU) def. Zalinksi/Bechtold (WCU) 8-2
2. Ziokowska/Villavicencio (ETSU) def. Perez/Johnson (WCU), 8-6
3. Munn/Cotton (WCU) def. Aldea/McInnis, 8-4